The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-04

| How 1t Is Spilled Along n Pathway for the
Convenience of Strolling Philosophers
Letter in New York sun.
What is the Roman pathway the Sun cor
respondent asked gentle, meek eyed policeman
the outskirts of the amphltheatre here.
''Ss-s-b! Dent speak sloud. 'Sturo meet
in y'know."
The correspondent had still to learn of the
Chautauqua rule that shall speak above
a whisper within fifty yards of a meeting, and
particular meeting being apparent within or
binary hearing distance, he asked
What meetingW
"S-s-s-h! D'votonl meetin'."
Down in the pit of the great amphitheater
were gathered / 900 persons, In attendance on
the 10 A. NJ devotional service. The cool morn
ing breeze gently waited the pleasant odor of
fresh roof tar over the benches and into the
worshipers' nostrils.
Now, look here. I've had enough of tar and
devotion ana lectures, and little heathenism is
what need. What is the Roman pathway?'
Why, it's a path way of Roman history. You
begin over there, where the first sign is and
follow the signs to the north end OF the grounds,
and you'll see what II Is"
The first sign read: Pathway of Roman
History. Scale fit. to l IN. 276 B. C.-476 A.
The first sign board large foot-square
post, headed Traditional Period" The second
board was smaller post with tin sign. First
Punic War Begins. Conquest of Sicily" These
signs stood before tent, inside of which were
piled dozen chairs, and over the door of which
was lettered United Presbyterians."
United Presbyterans and the traditional period
OF Roman history did not have any apparent
conjunction, and perhaps were intended to be
taken separately, but there apparent pur
pose about the nearness of the next sign, First
Punic War Ends to a cottage clothes-line. The
waving sheets and towels beautifully repre-
sented the idea of peace The next board was,
unfortunately, upside down. and, AS the CORE
spondent's head was not, ne overlooked it.
Before neat little cottage were the signs,
Cicero Born" "Pompey Born" Next to this
interesting birthplace was a mean howell which
another sign Indicated as the birthplace of the
Il Sa1l,
also indicated having died this cheerful
place. The Chatauqua management is econom-
ical and puts one building to many purposes
posslb bic, however much the feelings of MIS-
torian may be shocked. On the door post Of
another cottage the immortal Virgil bad hung
out his shinGle while ''Scvlla Died. Horace
Born" and "Llvy Born" waged a lively warfare
for the front yard.
The Battle of Actium" was stationed next
the postoffice into whose cramped and dirty
quarters some hundred persons squeezed every
morning and night to fight for their mail. Be-
fore the milk depot Period of Internal
Trou bes." 100 A. d. indicated the age of a
degenerate little cabin bearing the sign, "Chau-
tauqua School of Culture and Modelling" The
head of dog, the less ferocious for being
done in clay, kept guard over the art treasures
inside.
Hadrian proclaimed Emperor over anoth-
cracked little cabin, inside of which were two
washerwomen washing nightgowns and skirts,
presumably the noble Hadrian's robes of state
Marcus Aurelius, and Cornelius hold joint rule
over a moss grown, stumpy ravine; while just
beyond Queen Anne cottage of the most mod
architecture illustrated the sad fact that
Rome Began to Decline 200 A. d. Alexander
Servlus and Caracalla disputed possession of the
backyard.
the blue waters of the Mediterranean, known
in. the modern world Lake ChautuaQu
twenty miles long several hundred feet deep
the-highest body of water-on-the continent Eavi-
gated by-steam boats according the local
guides shope through the trees that covered the
territory of Constantinople. The last sign of
the pathway, Period OF the Decline and Fall"
wound up the history of Rome.
1t may be. intimat~d that the Roman
pathway and it's signs. and the structures and
other things along its course, separate and
distinct institutions. not to be taken mixed,
but there is external evidence of any such
intention.